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My baby cries at large gatherings. How can I include her in activities?

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My 9-month-old daughter screams, wails, and cries uncontrollably when we go anywhere where there's a large group or loud noises, like music. At church we can't even go to the quiet room -- she cries even louder. I've left my daughter with her grandmother and aunt occasionally, but I want to include her in these activities. Has anyone else had this problem?

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my son just turned 3. He used to be great in large crowds. His dad has a huge dominican family and we have always had large. loud parties for every occasion! We never had a problem, he loved it! now he cries and asks to go to the car until we leave! This causes a huge arguement with dad and I because he says i just need to let him cry but i can see the fear in him and just cant do it!! Ive also noticed i cant take him to chuck e cheese anymore because it is too loud and too many people he just says please mommy i go to car!! he isnt autistic, or have any of the sensory overload symptoms!! He is fluent in spanish and english!! does anyone else have this problem??

Omg! I am so glad I'm not the only one with this problem! My little girl who is now 8 months old has issues with people shoving for her attention or getting in her face. What makes the situation worse is that my MIL makes me feel guilty about it every time we have a family gathering. She compares Autumn to other babies and acts like I am somehow influencing Autumn to not like her But she and her husband never try to get together with us to spend time with her otherwise. My daughter does very well with people that she sees often though. That seems to be the trick, but without the cooperation of my in laws, things won't change until she's older.

My 5 month old is the same she will be ok at first and then screams at the top of her poor lil lungs and we have to leave early or shortly.after we get there cause she won't stop crying until we get out of loud envoirment

My 6 month old son just started doing the same thing. My husband has a very large, rambuncious, Irish family. We were at a baby shower the other day and ppl were trying to hold him and he freaked out! He has absolutely loved everyone up until the last few weeks. I looked on here and it said this is the time they usually go thru a little "stranger anxiety" even with ppl they know. They have a very select few ppl that they adore at this point. For my son, it's myself and my mother (she has been sitting for him 3 days a week since he was 7 weeks old). He even gives my husband a hard time at night. I try to leave my husband alone with him for a while so he can get used to being without me. Your son is bonded the most with you. It will take just a little exposure and some time. He will eventually come out of it. Just be patient with him. He just wants to be with his mama that he loves so much :-)

I'm currently having the same experience with my 7-month old (sensory overload). I'm a stay-at-home-mom and thought it would be a good idea to socialize my son with other children. I thought it would be fun for him to simply "watch" the other kids in the mall play area, but to our surprise he began to cry as soon as we entered the "kid zone". The noise level was markedly higher in that area, so we figured that was the issue. We tried simply pushing him in his stroller around the mall with the same result and ended up leaving. On another occasion he immediately began to cry when music was played at a family gathering and wouldn't allow anyone other than me to hold him. We've also noticed that he cries whenever another child cries. I think this is a phase that they will grow out of, but we can help them with their anxiety by introducing them to small groups then larger ones over time. I plan to start attending the reading sessions at our local library as a first step.

I have a very similar situation with my 9 month old boy. He is mostly happy and even tempered at home or in the car. But when I put him in his stroller and take him anywhere in public, regardless of whether it is loud or there are a lot of people, he starts crying hysterically. Literally he escalates in a matter of minutes to the point where he is hyperventilating. Sheesh! I have never in my life seen such a drama queen (king)! I can't take him anywhere because of the dirty looks and frankly I don't want to listen to him anymore than anyone else does. However, I do realize he only does it because he is scared to be in an unfamiliar place. I've tried speaking to him soothingly, holding him, rocking him and it doesn't work. If anything it makes him cry louder. He is too young to understand "no" or "shh" so there is literally nothing I can do. However, I COMPLETELY agree with kimberly_brooke, the only way to stop it is to get him used to the situations that scare him.

To anonymous with the in-laws...YOU ARE NOT ALONE. My son couldn't handle us walking in and people grabbing him, so I wouldn't let them. They would get mad at me and look at me like I was "that Mom" that wouldn't let anyone else hold my child, like it was my fault he was more sensitive. I wanted him to feel free, but I accept him as he is and learned to let him take his time assessing the new situation, and eventually he' be comfortable enough to get down and play and socialize. If they grabbed, he woud never get comfortable and he'd be miserable. By accepting him as he is and working with his needs, but encouraging exploration, he's gradually getting braver and more secure. But he still hangs back and takes in a situation before joining in. You are the mother, and your child needs you to accept and protect them, even from family. They're worth it. Explain it's not personal, it's just how they are and coach them on the best approach. It'll be better for everyone in the end.

My son is now 3 1/2 and is getting better. We foudn with him that if we eased him slowly into the situation, letting him take it in before letting anyone else hold him, or setting him down, he did better. Even with family he knew and loved he would get overwhelmed in a group and cry. We started going early to functions to let him get used to a couple people and the new space before the crowd gathered. He'd get comfortable, then better handled people as they arrived. If he didn't walk into an already crowded room it was MUCH easier on him. Though he would still take a while to warm up to the crowd, he would be less traumatized. It worked for us, and now it doesn't take him as long.

m glad like me other mums too thre who hvg same problem... with my 9 month old son...when he ws new born he use to go in evryone arms ...smile n play but as soon as he bcame 5 mthold he started liking only selected people..but nw if i take him at anyone house he starts getting uncomfortable n cries...people say tht i kept him alone in hse a lot thts y he has bcum like this n i shld make him socialise..but still the more i tke him to new people the more he gets irritated..so now i dnt care wht people say if he is uncomfortable i tke him in diff room where he feels safe...

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